Tim Jeffs – Artist - Drawing with Ink:
Spots in My Eyes
Drawing a Spotted Moray Eel
Available to purchase as prints and signed reproductions at:
www.etsy.com/shop/TimJeffsArt
Spotted Moray Eel. 11x17" Ballpoint Pen and Ink wash
I'll never forget the first time I encountered a moray eel close up. I was a teenager and just
started scuba diving with my brother Tony in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North
Carolina. We loved diving and exploring the many ship wrecks that litter the sea bed along
the Outer Banks. Most of the wrecks were merchant ships, sunk during World War 2 by
German U-boats. And after 50 years underwater the metal hulks had become covered by coral
that gave them the appearance as if they have been dipped in batter, fried, and now had a
think layer of sea life crust coating. Throughout this coral coating are thousands of holes that
a variety of sea life makes it's home. Various fish, crabs and lobsters use the holes as a safe
place to leave. Our main goal was to find lobsters, and we would search endlessly for a large
lobster to take as a prize home to eat. While looking in one particular hole, and sticking my
head in to see if a lobster was home, I came face to face with a Spotted Moray staring back at
me. As a Moray breathes it mouth opens and closes to force the water over it's gills in what
looks like an aggressive motion. This startled me at first, but I realized it was just breathing,
and I'll never forget just staring at it's beauty, gracefulness, and the exquisitely detailed
camouflage skin patterns that cover it with amazement. I literally had spots in my eyes!
Spotted Morays are incredibly beautiful, graceful creatures. They can be found in the Western
Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Brazil. They can grow up to 7 feet long and live in
depths of up to 200 meters.
Detail of the Moray's Head
Detail of the Moray's Eye
Me and my very close friend Shane O'Malley with the Spotted Moray Eel drawing I did for him.